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Margaret Peterson Haddix

マーガレット・ピーターソン・ハディックス

Margaret Peterson Haddix

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1964-04-09 （Washington Court House, Ohio, U.S.）
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Residence History
Grew up on a farm near Washington Court House and Sabina, Ohio → Columbus, Ohio (residence)

Career

Occupations
Author, Children's and Young Adult fiction writer
Active Years
1995-2025
Influenced By
E.L. Konigsburg, Louisa May Alcott, Anne Frank

Education

Miami University (Ohio)
College of Arts and Science (approx.) / English / Journalism / History
Degree: B.A. (multiple majors)
Country: United States
Holds degrees in English/Journalism, English/Creative Writing, and History

Awards

Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Grade 6–9)
1998
Work: Running Out of Time
Category: Grade 6–9
Organization: Maryland Library Association
Result: Won
Sequoyah Book Award (Young Adult)
1998
Work: Running Out of Time
Category: Young Adult
Organization: Oklahoma Library Association
Result: Won
Grand Canyon Reader Award (Intermediate)
1998
Work: Running Out of Time
Category: Intermediate
Organization: Arizona Library Association
Result: Won
Black-Eyed Susan Book Award (Grade 6–9)
1999
Work: Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey
Category: Grade 6–9
Organization: Maryland Library Association
Result: Won
Golden Sower Award
2000
Work: Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey
Organization: Nebraska Golden Sower
Result: Won
Golden Duck Award (Eleanor Cameron Award)
2004
Work: Escape from Memory
Category: Eleanor Cameron Award
Organization: Golden Duck Awards
Result: Won
Lamplighter Award (Triple Crown Awards)
2005
Work: Among the Betrayed
Organization: Triple Crown Awards
Result: Won
Ohioana Book Award (Juvenile Literature)
2008
Work: Uprising
Category: Juvenile Literature
Organization: Ohioana Library Association
Result: Won
Buckeye Children's and Teen Book Award (Grades 3–5)
2009
Work: Found
Category: Grades 3–5
Organization: Buckeye Children's and Teen Book Award
Result: Won
Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award
2010
Work: Found
Organization: Pennsylvania School Librarians Association
Result: Won
Massachusetts Children's Book Award
2010
Work: Found
Organization: Salem State University (award host)
Result: Won
Nēnē Award
2010
Work: Found
Organization: Nēnē Award (Hawaiʻi)
Result: Won
Sasquatch Book Award
2011
Work: Found
Organization: Washington Library Association
Result: Won
Louisiana Readers' Choice Award
2011
Work: Found
Organization: Louisiana Center for the Book / State Library of Louisiana
Result: Won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Running Out of Time

1995 Young adult / Children's fiction

A girl raised in an isolated, historical-looking village discovers it is actually a government-run tourist trap and must seek help in the modern world.

IdentityFreedomTruth and deception

Among the Hidden

1998 Young adult / Dystopian

First book in the Shadow Children series, about a boy hidden because of a population control law who longs for freedom.

OppressionIndividual rightsFriendship

Found

2008 Young adult / Mystery / Sci-fi

First book of The Missing series, following children who are discovered to be missing from history and the mystery surrounding them.

HistoryTime travelFamily

Into the Gauntlet

2010 Young adult / Adventure

Book 10 of the multi-author The 39 Clues series; continues the treasure-hunt style adventure.

AdventureFamily secrets

Just Ella

1999 Children's / Romance / Fairy-tale retelling

A retelling of Cinderella that questions the traditional happily-ever-after, focusing on Ella's perspective.

IndependenceExpectations vs. reality

Bibliography

  • Running Out of Time (1995)
  • Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey (1996)
  • Among the Hidden (Shadow Children #1) (1998)
  • Just Ella (1999)
  • Found (The Missing #1) (2008)
  • Into the Gauntlet (The 39 Clues #10) (2010)
  • Many other titles (over 40 books)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Accessible narrative voicePlot-driven, fast pacingPerspective tailored to children and young adults
Recurring Motifs
FamilyIdentityQuestioning authority

Legacy

Margaret Peterson Haddix has authored a large body of children's and YA fiction, winning numerous state and association awards. Her books are widely used in educational settings and she is respected for dystopian and historical speculative works for teens.

Trivia

  • Her first published book, Running Out of Time, was released while she was pregnant with her second child.
  • She grew up on a farm in Ohio in a family of avid readers.